When I was six years old and didn't go to school yet, I read Dunno on my own, all the parts. I had this thick green book, almost without pictures, and in the summer I would sit on the couch all day and read it. I wonder why my children can't do that?
The truth is that when I was six years old and not yet in school, I spent the whole summer with my grandmother at the dacha. My parents came for the weekend, there were no friends around, there was no TV, and what's more, we didn't even have electricity. There was Dunno, and I read it.
My children have educational games, trips, holidays, a tablet and cartoons. They would hardly be interested in that thick green book. They are unlikely to read most of the books that I read as a child - whether for pleasure or as part of the school curriculum. But this does not mean that they will not read. They will read - different things and in a different way - and most likely, much more than I did in my time. They are five and three, and we have already read Dunno (a big beautiful book with pictures), although they did not really like it. Barto and the Brothers Grimm, Bianchi and Krylov - all pass.
Their favourite childhood characters are the Gruffalo, Curious George, Karlchen, Moon Baby, Gerald the Giraffe, Russell the Sheep, Smack the Kitten, and many, many others, most of whom I met at the same time as my children. We read a lot and with pleasure, we have five bookcases at home, and the children compete with each other to choose a book for the night. And then another one. And another one. And another. And - Mom, you're falling asleep again, Mom, don't sleep, Mom, read, read, read!
My children read not because they are so smart, and not because I make them, but because they are interested. Correctly chosen modern books with colorful author's illustrations, high-quality translation and interesting plot will not leave any child indifferent.
And we work hard to help you with this choice. What books do your children like? Write to us in the comments, we are very interested.
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